5 Reasons Why Getting More Sleep Will Improve Your Poker Game

Poker players around the globe are trying to figure out ways to improve their game. Watching endless videos, practicing hands, studying latest poker strategies and implementing them, learning new tricks etc., but what they fail to focus on is something so trivial that is guaranteed to improve their game, i.e. SLEEP. A good night’s sleep is a sure shot method to increase your winning streak.

Amateurs and professional alike are known to improvise their game by sacrificing their sleep. They are usually up all night playing poker, mostly online, trying to better them. A clever approach would be to get some sleep. Getting more sleep is one of the best things you can do to improve your poker game. Here are the top 5 reasons to support that claim.

Your Memory will Improve

Our brain processes and retains information that we see and hear. In order to do that efficiently, it needs rest. During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) when you are in your deepest sleep; your entire body shuts down, going into a phantom phase. That’s when your brain reboots, remodeling the synapses and organizing information. This helps us retain information over the long term. Lack of sleep disrupts the communication between the hippocampus and a group of neurons, making it more difficult for the primary cortex to retain information. Its simple really, sleep well guys.

You’ll make better Decisions

When your body and mind are well rested, you’ll obviously make better decisions. Improved memory will allow you to remember how opponents played against you or the awesome strategy you implemented to win those extra 10 buy-ins in a session a week earlier. Your thinking will be straight and information will be available more readily, all of which will help you see the bigger picture and therefore, make a better decision. Poker is all about making the best decisions and more sleep can help you make those decisions.

You’ll be less likely to tilt

When you get a proper night’s rest, your ability to control your emotions improves. Take infants and toddlers for example, when they don’t get sleep they become cranky, but when they do, they are the most adorable beings on the planet. For adults though, lack of sleep will make you emotionally vulnerable, which in turn, will make you tilt more often. Adequate sleep allows us to control our emotions better, which results in less tilting.

You’ll be more focused

When you have trouble focusing, that is a direct indication of sleep deprivation (or drug abuse), either way, adequate sleep will help you stay focused and avoid any rash decisions. Lack of focus is one of the major reasons why players make mistakes. This mostly comes from fatigue. Adults need a minimum of six hours of sleep per night with many doctors recommending around eight in order to be at peak functionality the following day.

Your health will improve

We don’t need to stress the importance of sleep for a healthy lifestyle here. Studies show that getting more sleep can improve an individual’s health. Sleep deprivation can cause a number of chronic illnesses including obesity and heart diseases. If you are in a good shape, you automatically have a better approach towards life and that will show at the table. Lately, we’ve seen how a healthier lifestyle has resulted in positive results in poker, and sleep is one key aspect of improving your health.

Ample of sleep is a positive investment with highest returns that every poker player should make. Consider these reasons the next time you strain your eyes to play poker. Sweet dreams and good luck!

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